COMIC-CON: LEN WISEMAN TO DIRECT SHRAPNEL

Radical Publishing has announced that Len Wiseman, director of Live Free or Die Hard and co-creator, director and producer of the Underworld franchise, has signed on to develop and direct the motion picture adaption of Radical Publishing's Shrapnel.

Co-created by Zombie Studios' CEO Mark Long and science fiction novelist Nick Sagan, Shrapnel is an epic 3-part miniseries that unfolds in a dystopian future in which imperialism has laid siege to the Solar System and Venus stands as the last free colony of humanity. Caught in the middle of this interplanetary war is Samantha "Sam² Vijaya, a soldier in self-imposed exile recovering from her service in the military. When the battle once again crashes into Sam's life, she must choose to either remain on the sidelines and watch a colony's destruction, or risk her physical and psychological well-being to intervene. The first story arc revolves around Venus, while the second arc rages across Mars and the final climax carries over onto Earth itself.

"I'm really drawn to the reluctant-hero story," said Wiseman, who noted that the last hero he directed, John McClaine in Live Free or Die Hard, fit that archetypal mold.

"Shrapnel is a story about making choices and rising to the occasion.² stated Radical's President and Publisher Barry Levine. "I enjoyed it so much that I made this Radical's biggest commitment to date. Len was my top choice for adapting this perfect balance of action and drama and I'm glad to have him on board.²

Developed as a live action film with possible 3-D approach, Shrapnel will be produced by Barry Levine, Len Wiseman and Mark Gordon with Radical's Executive Vice-President Jesse Berger, Mark Long and Josh McLaughlin of Gordon Co. attached as executive producers. A video game version of Shrapnel, developed by Zombie Studios, is set for release in the near future.

Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising Trade Paperback, which collects the first mini-series of the Shrapnel
universe, goes on sale August 19.

COMIC-CON: IDW PUBLISHING

IDW Publishing opened its Comic-Con International presentations on Thursday with old friends, new creators and several announcements.

COMIC-CON: BILLY MARTIN'S VITRIOL

Already a graphic artist, clothing designer and guitarist for the band Good Charlotte, Billy Martin will now turn his talents to comics with Vitriol the Hunter, a new comic book series from IDW Publishing co-written by Brent Allen and featuring Martin on interior art as well.

This futuristic tale of a vigilante is slated to launch in February. It is scheduled for six issues.

COMIC-CON: IRON MAN 2

The Iron Man movie franchise made a big splash at Preivew Night at Comic-Con International in San Diego on Wednesday night.

Four suits of armor from both films were on display at the Marvel Comics booth, quickly drawing onlookers.

In addition, another life-size Iron Man was next to a display at the Marvel toys area of the Hasbro booth.

With the film recently wrapped, it's expected that director Jon Favreau, a staple at the convention in recent years, will unveil the first footage at a panel on Saturday.

In other Iron Man 2 news, Paramount Pictures has released five new stills from the movie, including Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, Favreau as Happy Hogan and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

COMIC-CON: DC DIRECT

DC Direct unveiled what it called "worldwide debuts" at the DC Comics booth at Comic-Con International on Wednesday night.

Following is a rundown (click on the thumbnails for larger images):

* The Catwoman 1:6 Scale Figure is scheduled for March.

* The Poison Ivy 1:6 Scale Figure is scheduled for May.

* Blammooids! Series 2, scheduled for April, will include Superman, Lex Luthor, The Creeper, Plastic Man, Darkseid and Batgirl.

* Blammoids! Series 3, scheduled for August 2010, will include Batman (Classic), Robin, Catwoman, Two-Face, Cyborg and Wildcat.

* Blammoids! Series 4, scheduled for Decmeber 2010, will include Martian Manhunter, Brainiac, The Demon, Hawkman, The Flash and Professor Zoon.

* History of the DC Universe Series 3 figures, scheduled for April, will include Superman, Plastic Man, Ocean Master and Brainiac.

* History of the DC Universe Series 4 figures, scheduled for June, will include Captain Atom, Kobra, Martian Manhunter and Nightwing.

* Gotham City Stories Catwoman is scheduled for May.

* Gotham City Stories Joker is scheduled for August 2010.

ARCHIE COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and four- to seven-page prevews of Archie Comics titles arriving in stores on July 29, CLICK HERE.